Proven Practices

High-Performance Building Procurement Toolkit | For Developers, Owners, and Municipalities to prepare to work with High-Performance Professionals and to set up their projects for success.

Existing Buildings Commissioning: Practical Guide | For Building Owners and Managers, commissioning is a cost-effective process to improve performance of existing equipment and controls, saving money on maintenance and utilities.

Fulton Street | Built in 1850 – Boston

The Thompson Elementary School | Built in 2013 – Arlington

Turner Falls Middle & High School | Built in 1970 – Montague

Waltham Healthcare Center | Built in 1992 & 1996 – Waltham

670 Albany Street | Built in 2005 – Boston

West Hall at Olin College | Built in 2000  – Needham

Envision Hotel | Built in 1979 – Mansfield

Hathaway Mills | Built in 1910 – New Bedford

Danesh Residences | Built in 1972 – Brookline

The Stationery Factory | Built in 1889 – Dalton

450 Artisan Way | Built in 2014 – Somerville

Temple Beth Avodah | Built in 1970 – Newton

Induction Cooking| User-friendly cooktops and ranges that reduce emissions and improve air quality

LED Lighting Retrofits | Long lasting, highly efficient lighting upgrades that enhance building performance and occupant well-being.

Plug Loads and Tenant Energy Use Reduction | A guide to saving energy in tenant occupied spaces.

Mini-Split Systems | Highly efficient heat pumps for decentralized electric heating and cooling in multifamily buildings.

Variable Refrigerant Flow (VRF) Systems |Highly efficient heat pumps for centralized electric heating and cooling in multifamily buildings.

One-Pipe Steam Systems | Simple measures for one-pipe steam systems that enhance efficiency and comfort.

Two-Pipe Steam Systems | Simple measures for two-pipe steam systems that enhance efficiency and comfort.

Metro Steam Systems | Simple measures for metro steam systems that enhance efficiency and comfort.

Dedicated Outdoor Air Systems (DOAS) and Energy Recovery Ventilators (ERV) | Controlled ventilation for enhanced comfort and savings.

Hydronic Heating Upgrades | Highly efficient centralized heating upgrades that increase comfort and energy savings.

Chilled Water Plant Optimization | Highly efficient centralized cooling upgrades that increase energy efficiency and savings.

Packaged Terminal Heat Pumps (PTHPs) | Decentralized electric heating and cooling for multifamily buildings.

Enhanced Ventilation with Energy Recovery Ventilators (ERV) | Mechanical ventilation optimization for improved comfort and savings.

Air Sealing for Room ACs | Low-cost measures to increase cooling efficiency and improve the building envelope.

Roof Insulation | High-performance roof insulation upgrades that improve the building envelope.

High Performance Windows | State-of-the-art windows significantly improve comfort, reduce operating costs, and save energy.

Wall Insulation | High performance insulation improves comfort and saves energy while reducing utility bills and long-term maintenance costs.

Air to Water Heat Pumps | Highly efficient domestic hot water production that reduces emissions and energy costs.

Point of Use Domestic Hot Water | Highly efficient on-demand domestic hot water that reduces emissions and maintenance costs.

Solar Photovoltaics and Batteries | Clean, renewable electricity generation and storage to dramatically reduce utility costs.

Mid-rise Multifamily A real zero over time plan, completed by JB&B, of a 75-unit multi-family building subject to Boston BERDO.

Affordable Housing A real zero over time plan, completed by New Ecology, of 117 affordable housing units subject to Boston BERDO.

Mixed-use Office A real zero over time plan, completed by Thornton Thomasetti, of a 6-story office, restaurant, and retail property subject to Boston BERDO. 

Elderly Care Facility A real zero over time plan, completed by GreenerU, of a 3-story office building subject to Boston BERDO.

Pine Street Inn | Case study of a portfolio of 13 lodging/multi-family buildings across 240,000 square feet.

Codman Square Neighborhood Development Corporation | Case study of a portfolio of 19 buildings across 380,000 square feet.

Simmons University | Case study of 5 higher education buildings across 800,000 square feet.

Excel Academy Charter Schools | Case study of 3 K-12 buildings across 100,000 square feet.

YMCA of Greater Boston | Case study of 12 commercial / recreational buildings across 500,000 square feet.

WGBH Educational Foundation | Case study of 2 broadcasting buildings across 300,000 square feet.

Retrofit Playbook for Larger Buildings (New York) | A living library of case studies, technical resources, and best practices to support high quality, low carbon upgrades. 

Case Studies on The Building Energy Hub (Illinois) | Features building upgrade case studies from different building types from all over Illinois.

Case Studies on the Building Innovation Hub (DC) | Features building upgrade case studies from different building types in DC.

Mass Save Energy Efficiency Case Studies | A collection of various buildings that received Mass Save incentives to finance energy efficiency upgrades.

Boston BERDO Fest Spotlights:

Renewable Energy: Consortium for Climate Solutions (Harvard, MGB, MIT, PowerOptions)

Weatherization: Distillery North

Energy Efficiency: BXP

Innovative Approaches to Building Decarbonization: Trinity Church

Climate Justice: Hano Homes (Allston Brighton CDC)

Deep Energy Retrofit: Eva White Apartments (Winn)

Boston Project Development Case Studies:

Hano Homes (Allston Brighton CDC)

Eva White Apartments (Winn)

LISC’s Decarbonization Hub | Explore deep energy retrofit case studies, funding opportunities, and a vendor list to support the decarbonization of affordable multi-family buildings.

BE-Ex High Rise / Low Carbon Multifamily – Deep Retrofit Profiles | A collection of deep retrofit profiles of fourteen tall residential buildings  to demonstrate how existing high-rise multifamily buildings can achieve low carbon emission targets. 

Carroll Tower Pilot Project (Rhode Island) | Example of window heat pump technology in low-income housing, as part of the Clean Heat Rhode Island Program. Administered by Abode Energy Management.

Large Multifamily Housing: Post-2000 Construction with District Steam | Models how a large multifamily building that uses district steam to produce hot water for heating can reduce emissions and improve energy efficiency. This resource is part of the City of Boston’s Building Decarbonization Guides to show strategies in common building types for undertaking building upgrades.

Cutting Carbon in Co-ops & Condos | This case study document is part of a series of resources created by BE-Ex for the Cutting Carbon in Co-ops & Condos Strategic Planning Workbook. Check out their project page for additional guidance and support.

BE-Ex High Rise / Low Carbon Office – Deep Retrofit Profiles | A collection of deep retrofit profiles of eighteen projects that undertook a deep retrofit that resulted in often dramatic energy reduction.

Wellesley Village Church’s Geothermal Transition: A GreenerU White Paper | Example of a geothermal HVAC system as a cost-effective approach to meet emissions goals in a church.